Summary:

With a million dollars I would fund the creation of Minnesota Public Art to solidify Saint Paul as a Great City. Every Great City is seen through its public art so it is true that Saint Paul as a great city must provide the framework to design, produce, manage, restore, and administrate quality public art. Public art by the people for the people would be organized upon workshops led by master craftsmen and artists working with apprentices to create and place public art through the great city of St. Paul.

Minnesota Public Art is innovative as it engages a proven yet largely forgotten practice of workshops developing and creating art but it actively and economically engages people who live and work in neighborhoods to beauty, commemorate and provide meaning for community where they live. The impact of significant creations of public art can be found in Paris via the Eiffel Tower, in China’s Great Wall, and Minnesota Public Art would brand Saint Paul to be known for its dynamic collection of public works created by artisans, architects, and engineers from the local community.

Both innovative and impact is to put people back to work in the spirit of the Works Progress Administration where young apprentices in after school work programs would develop skills and abilities via knowledge imparted through master artists and community art liaisons. The program would instill transferable skills to restore public works and sustain via effective administrative services as it promotes excellence in public art and civic life. This idea is largely sustainable through philanthropic contributions from areas such as workforce development, arts grants, community development grants, restoration grants, with revenue from the sales of public and increased tourism to St. Paul.